I have a interview for module process engineer in couple of days , It is for ME department I assume it’s metrology, I have a bachelors in computer science and the. Masters in data science and I never applied for this role still got the interview, can you guide me with what questions will be there and what can I prepare for? I really need help

Materials science phD, on OPT, One Co-op experience in a hard material industry. Working with Alloy development, Failure analysis, correlating processing structure property. Have transferrable hands on skill in SEM, XRD, EDS, EBSD, FIB, TEM. Not getting a single interview at lam, AMAT, Intel after applying in multiple roles. Any suggestions?

I wrote an essay on pioneering and used Wolfspeed as a case study. I would love if you could all read and give it a share! (I work in WFE btw!)

https://cooperkramer.substack.com/p/the-hardest-chip-to-make

To the hardware and AI engineers here: Which design do you think is winning the efficiency and speed war for running large language models right now and in the foreseeable future where models keep using the transformer architecture, and why?

My PhD was in Aluminosilicate thin films(2D), have years of experience in FIB-SEM, EDS, PVD(plasma, e beam, thermal), ion sputtering, IRRAS, XRD,XPS , plasma cleaning, Data analysis and few months of experience in TEM,TGA viscometry from my MS.

I had to move back to my country, sadly there are no process jobs here (for a couple of years at least). I joined a solar company who's in designing phase and project keeps delaying, it might take them 1-1.5 more years (I already lost 1 year with them with nothing to show for except tool negotiations). I think US is done for with the H1B thingy.

What would you recommend I do to get into semiconductor industry and get experience?

I'm from mechanical engineering background right now doing masters in semiconductor materials. My profile is for for process/yield integration role. What should I do to get placed offline?. I Read semiconductor devices, vlsi fabrication technology. Please advise.

planning to apply to IMI as process engineer, manghihingi lang po ng insight kung okay ang work/company culture based on your experience, is it a stable company to work at?

Hi,

I am coming from outside the UK and interviewing for a principal engineer role in semiconductors. Can you help me with what would be an appropriate ask to negotiate for salary?

I am thinking 70k-80k.

Many thanks!

Hi guys,

I am applying to jobs and 2 positions caught my attention on the same company - one for QA and the other for Faillure Analysis.

My current job is in process engineering but I would like to move to a different, less stressful direction (if that even is a thing in this industry).

I have a better background for the FA position given my experience in lab work during my Master's, and I like labwork overall, but I am scared it can turn repetitive and boring.

For the QA position I am concerned that it could be too much of a desk job for me, but I've never tried it, so who knows.

Anyway, if anyone of you work for these two positions, could you kindly describe how is your day to day life, what you enjoy and what you don't, etc?

Thanks!

I have a 1-hour panel technical screen coming up for a display subsystem silicon debug role in India. Roughly 3 YOE, so Engineer band rather than Senior.

My background is post-silicon validation on embedded SoCs: silicon bring-up, high-speed serial interface and flash controller validation, PHY timing calibration, crypto accelerator validation, some pre-silicon emulation. Solid on debug methodology and cross-team root-causing. No display experience at all.

The required quals are the generic ones — debug and triage ability, C/C++ and Python for tooling, digital logic and computer architecture fundamentals, large log/dataset analysis, system-level debug experience. Display protocols, SerDes and signal integrity are listed as nice-to-have only.

Questions for anyone who's been on either side of this kind of interview:

1. How deep do the digital fundamentals go in a screen like this — setup/hold and CDC level, or further?

2. Realistically, how much display knowledge do they expect from a candidate they know doesn't have it? What's the minimum that reads as "can ramp" instead of "unprepared"?

3. What shape do display debug scenario questions take, and how do you want a candidate to structure the answer?

4. Is live Python typical, and is it log-parsing style rather than algorithms?

5. What's the biggest thing that trips up people crossing over from non-display validation?

Appreciate any input.

Hi guys. I am planning to start a PhD in experimental condensed matter physics. Specifically working on TMDs like twisted WSe2. What will be my job prospects in the industry after such a PhD?

I see that I will get some clean room and device making skills like 2d stacking and devices, using instruments like AFM, Laser writing, e beam etc. Apart from that also learn to use cryogenic equipments since some experiments will take place at mK temperatures. Obviously there’s data analysis and physics research involved as well.

Do you think these skills will be enough to land a job in the industry? How is the work and pay in the industry? To be honest from physics point of view I am more interested in theoretical physics but with the job market and advance of AI I am scared I will not land a job if I keep pursuing theoretical physics.

I’m finishing a PhD in experimental soft matter physics and I’m interested in moving into the semiconductor industry.

My experience is mostly hands-on lab work: two-photon polymerisation / direct laser writing for microfabrication, liquid crystal cell fabrication in a cleanroom (although the lab itself was not ISO-classified), optical microscopy and SEM, ultrasonic soldering, basic electronics with oscilloscopes/function generators, thin film coating, 3D model designing, and MATLAB.

The problem is that a lot of semiconductor jobs I see ask for photolithography or semiconductor process experience, which I don’t have.

I’m trying to figure out the best way to bridge that gap. I’d be happy to start in an entry-level technician or R&D role if it helps me get into the industry.

For people already working in semiconductors: what skills would you recommend learning first? And are there any types of roles, courses, internships, or companies in Europe that might be a good fit for someone with my background? Would I be considered overqualified for entry-level positions?

Would really appreciate any advice, especially from people who moved from physics/academia into semiconductors.

I recently just finished my internship at a midsized semiconductor company in TX and was given a return offer for a full-time position after I graduate, 94k base + 10-15% bonus along (depends on personal and company performance). I'm more than happy with the offer, but I was just wondering what other semiconductor fabs are offering to other NCGs.

Thoughts on what this is? Zero results so far...

Also, if there's a more focused historical community, please let me know!

I want to ask people here who have hired or interviewed for these companies:

1. How much semiconductor-process/domain depth do they expect from a software candidate with 3 yoe?
   
2. For someone moving between companies in this space (eg. from KLA to AMAT/ASML/TSMC), is it better to lean into “I know your hardware-software problem” or just present yourself with strong general SWE fundamentals (C++, real time systems, multithreading and concurrency)
   
3. How to close domain-depth gap?

Would appreciate insight from anyone who’s been on either side of the table at these companies. Thanks!

Hello r/Semiconductors!

I am a video game designer, but I love studying the supply chain and investment economics of semiconductors.
So I (and Claude AI) made this web based tower defense game based on things that I learned about the industry.

https://sockmonke.itch.io/silicon-cycle

Check it out if you have a few minutes to spare m, i’d love some feedback. This intersection of interests seems pretty niche.

Hi all, I’m from Singapore and was offered a role as a senior process engineer in US.

I do have 4 YOE and a bachelors so was wondering what should I be asking for.

My previous annual compensation was around 75k SGD, but the tax is not as high here compared to there

I did ask friends over there and they said I should be demanding 110k USD minimum… but the number feels lower or considerably higher depending on the calculations I do.

Any advice?